Worried by the costs of drugs and medical care, the management of the Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Multi-system Hospital, has urged the Federal Government to grant import duty exception to imported medical equipment and drugs.
The Chief medical Director of the Multi-system Hospital, Dr Kolawole Ogundipe, who stated this, yesterday, at a media briefing to mark the sixth anniversary of the hospital, said since most of the equipments used in the hospitals were imported, the high exchange rate of dollar to naira, as well as the high customs duty has made cost of medical care very prohibitive.
“Most of the equipment we use here are dollar based, meaning that they were imported and when they arrive Nigeria, we have to pay customs duty. A lot of you are familiar with the custom duty imposed on a car. “
A car manufactured 10 years ago could attract custom charges as high as N5m. It is the same way we pay for medical equipment.
“Our desire is that the government should consider granting exemptions to medical equipment and allow them to come in so that the cost of procuring them will be less burdensome.”
Also, the Chief Medical Director noted that owing to the level of hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, the mental health and wellbeing of many Nigerians have deteriorated, which calls for an urgent intervention, saying that the hospital will be hosting a two-day Mental Health Summit.
“As a result of mental health challenges, cases of suicide, depression and school dropout are on the rise, “this year’s anniversary will be focusing on mental health in clear recognition of the hard times we live in and the increasing mental challenges we are all subjected to.
“We all must come together to address mental health, not only as a medical issue, but as a vital component of our overall well-being. The objectives of the event are to raise awareness about mental health, thereby breaking down the barriers of stigma, exploring avenues for integrating mental health services within our hospital’s offerings and elaborating on the mental health services currently available to our student body.”
Meanwhile, a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr Akinola Akinmade, has led a team of medical personnel in the hospital to conduct knee replacement procedure on the two knees of a 64 years old patient who was suffering from severe knee arthritis.
Explaining the breakthrough to newsmen, Akinmade said what was novel about the surgery is that the replacement of both legs were done at the same time and the patient was able to walk with it within a week.
The 64 years old patient described the medical officers that attended to her as exceptionally professional, caring and committed, saying that she didn’t believe it could be possible to use her two legs again. “I have been hearing that this place is the best of the best, but I can now confirm it myself.”
